Compensating gearing



Nov. 29, 1927. 1,651,228

D. E. ROSS COMPENSATING GEAHING Filed March 12, 1924 2 Shets-Sheet 1 D.E. ROSS COMPENSATING GEARING Filed March 12, 1924 d g. J

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Mm [//JV/7 //M fly. 7

I Inventor Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

* nnirso stares PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID E. BOSS, OF LAFAYETTE, INDIANA.

OOMPENSATING GEARING.

Application filed March 12, 1924. Serial 110698558.

unequal rotation of the wheels when the vehicle is turning.

The invention is an improvement upon the compensating gear shown in mycom panion application, (Case 6904-) filed February 29, 1924, Serial No.696,019.

The novelcompensating gear in brief comprises twoopposedconipensating'disks respectively fixedly attached to the adjacentinner ends of alined axle or shattsections; an outer casing or drivingmember rotatably mounted upon the axle sections and enclosing saiddisks; a series of preferablyrocking cams arranged between each disk andthe housing; means for properly spacing .the rocking cams; and meanswhereby the cams are caused to lock bot-h disks to the driving memberwhenthe disks are turning at uniform speeds, but when one disk isretarded, or theother disk is accelerated (as in turning the vehicle),the locking cams ill be caused to release the faster disk, until a ainspeed of rotation, as when the vehicle moves directly forward.

I will explain the invention with reference to the accompanying drawingsto enable others to understand and use the same; and refer to the claimsfor summaries of the invention, and of the novel features ofconstruction and novel combinations of parts, for which protection isdesired.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical section through acompensating gear embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transversesectional view through the gear on the line 22, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is anenlarged detail sectional. view on the line 3-45, Fig. 2. I

Figs. 4: and 5 are detail diagrammatic views illustrating the operationof the cam members.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 66, Fig. 2. g

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 7-7, Fi 2. I

In the drawings I have conventionally ill lustrated the compensatinggear as applied to the driving axle of an automobile. This axlecomprises opposite alined shaft sections A, A on the inner ends of whichare mounted simiiaropposed disks 2, 2 which disks are enclosed within arotatable driving member or housing. A

The housing may be of any desired kind,

and rotated by any suitable means, such as are commonly employed. Asshown 7 the housing is composed of opposite similar complemental halves*1, 1 united by bolts 1 which also secure a gear 1 of any desired kindto.

the housing; which gear may be driven. as

by any suitable means (not shown).

The housing members 1, 1 are rotatably mounted on the shaft sections A,A in any suitable manner; or as usual in such drives; the inner ends ofaxle sections A, A abutting within the housing. The axle sections may beconnected at their outer ends to drive wheels of the vehicle (not shown)as usual. The disk 2 is attached to the left hand axle section A, andthe disk2 is attached to the right hand axle section A. The means forfastening the disks to the axle sections may be of any suitable kind.Each disk is independently interlocked with the housing by means of anannular series of related cam members preferably arranged and adapted tooperate as hereinafter explained. I

The inner peripheries of the housing mem bers 1, l are truly cylindricand concentric to the axes of the axle sections A, A, and each disk 2, 2is truly cylindrie onits outer face, but is of considerably lessexterior di ameter than interior diameter of the housing 1, 1 the spacebetween the outer periphery of the disks 2, 2. and the inner peripheryof the housing 1, 1 forming an annular ohainher in which chamber aredisposed two annular series of spaced cylindric rocking cams or clutchelements 3, 3 The clutch elements 3 areadapted to interlock the housingmemher 1. and the disk 2,andthe clutch elements I ivhat like aball-bearing cage, and is shown as pressed out of sheet metal andprovided at intervals with openings in the ring adapt ed to receive theclutch elements 3,32 and greatly varied.

with inwardly projecting lugs 6 and 6 and outwardly projecting lugs 6, 6the lugs being disposed on opposite sides of the openings, and opposedlugs being bent toward each other suificiently to confine the clutchelements 3, 3 in the openings, while permitting them to turn therein ontheir individual axes, as indicated in Figs. 4t and 5,

The space between the outer peripheries of the disks 2, 52 and the innerperiphery of the housing member 1, 1 would not permit truly cylindricclutch elements 3 :to be used; and the cylindric clutch elements 3, 3are obl'at'ed or somewhat flattened on their inner and outer side's (asindicated at S inFigS. 2, 3, 5 and 6) rothat when they are so positionedbetween the disks and the housings with their flattened orsegment'alpor- "tions 8 directly opposite the opposed periph cries of the. disks 22 and housing (as in Figs; Qehd 5) they will not i the disks'or housi g;and consequent. ie disks can rotate freely within the ho ing, or thehousingcan freely rotate around the disks; but it the clutch members 3,S are rocked on their axes diainetrically opposite parts of the portions3 of the clutch members will contact with the opposed peripheries of thedisks 2, 2 and housing 1 1, and (as indicated in Fig. 5) lock thehousing to he eisks 2, 2 thus causing the disks to turn with thehousing; or vice versa.

To produce simultaneous locking and re leasing motions of all clutchmembers 8, or 3, means are provided whereby the clutch members arenormally caused to interlock the housing and disks so that the diskswill be driven by the housing, and whereby it one disk exceeds the otherin speed (as when the vehicle is turning) the cams will release the fastdisk until the return to same speeds as when theyehicie goes straightahead) then the clutch members are operativcl'y engaged to drive bothdisks alike. The means for so controlling the clutch members may be Inthe construction shown friction members 4;, 4*? are interposed betweenthe disks 1 and 2 and are normally pressed apart by suitable springs'(as t. ih l" iiigs. land 7) which hold them in frictional engagementwith the inner ends oi. disks 2, 2. These friction members n 4? are alsonormally held in proper relative rota torial position by means of asuitable spring t. i. t, Figures 1, 2 and 6, confined in mots 41? in themei'nbers l, 4-?) which spring normally tends to pre vent relativerotatorial inoven'ient of said members. The extent of relativerotatoi'itmovement of the members 4, t maybe limited, t. i., by a pin 41on one member (as if?) engaging hole 4- in the opposed member (as seeFigs. 1 and 2. When the housing 1 initially turned one of the clutchelements 3, or 3*? will be rotated and'immediately lock the related diskto the housing, thereby dragging the related friction member about itsown centeiy'and causing all the clutch elements to bind the disks andmember, and cause the disks tore- 3 on its outer end which engages notchor recess 1 in the housing section 1, (or P) as indicated in Figures 1 tand 5. I pins 3 and 3 and notches 4 and'i are so spaced and proportionedthat 'when'the housing is rotated, ai'id'the frictional members i 4 heldstatic between disks 25 2 all the clutch members 3, 3 will be'simultaneously slightly revolved about their own aices through theaction of the pins 3 3 engaging; notches i, t", and will turn Builtciently to tightly clutch thedisks 252, (see Figure 5) and'inter'lockthe disks andhousln When the vehicle turns, the wheel on the outer aremoves a greater distance than the wheel on the inner arc; and it, forexample, the disk 2 is attached to the wheel traversing the greater arethe disk' 2 will then rotate "faster than the disk 2, and clutch members3 will be rocked by the-rotation of member l relative to 'n'iemb'cr in adirection to release the disk 2"; and thepinsii engaging with notches alin member at the frictional member It? will advance to the limit permit"1 ted by pins 4 (see Figures 1' andQ) engag- These ing the slightlylarger holei= d thereby coinpressing. the coil spring t confined in theslots in "the frictional members at, i the spring 4t however willrestore the frictional members 4, i to their original relativelnormalposition as soon as the speeds of r'otation of disk 2; 2* are equalizedand thi movement oi" the disks wilt, through thepins 3 and notches t,turn the clutch members 3 back so that when the d sksresume the embers 3will lock" same speed said clutch the disk 2 to the hon. ng, thus retoring full traction oh both drive wheels.

I at present prefer to employ frictional means between the disks such asilluetra ted in frictional means employed may be greatly varied; andalso that the connections or means whereby the series of cams areshifted by the frictional means, as required in. the

s. 1' to i: but it-is obvious that the efiective operation of thecompensating gear, may be greatly varied within the scope of theinvention. s

diameter of the driving member leaving an annular space between theouter periphery of each disk and the inner periphery of the drivingmember; a series of clutch men here for each disk placed in the saidannular space and adapted to lock the disk to the driving member ineither direction of rotation thereof; and a pair of friction memberslocated between the adjacent disks andv re spectively in frictionalcontact with the inner end of the adjacent disk and respectivelyengaging said clutch elements whereby when one disk moves faster thanthe other the re lated clutch elements are disengaged and the fasterdisk freed from the driving member; the said clutch elements beingre-engaged when the disks resume the same speed.

' 2. In a compensating gear; a driving.

member; two adjacent interposed disks respectively attachable to theadjacent inner ends of alined axle sections, the disks being less inexternal diameter than the interior diameter of the driving memberleaving an annular space between the outer periphery of each disk andthe inner periphery ofthe housing; a series of rocking clutch membersfor each disk placed in the said annularv space and adapted. to lock thedisk to the driving member in either direction of rotavtion; means forproperly spacing the said clutch elements in said space; and a pairoffriction members located between the adjacent disks and respectively infrictional contact with the inner end of the adjacent disk andrespectively engaging said .clutch elements whereby when one disk movesfaster than the other the related clutch elements are disengaged and thedisk freed from the driving member; and means whereby the said clutchelements are re-engaged when the disks resume equal speed.

3. A compensating gear comprising; a driving member; opposed disksattachable to the adjacent inner ends of alined axle sections. the disksbeing less in external dia-meter than the interior diameter of thedriving member leaving an annular space between the outer peripheries ofthe disks other, whereby when one disk moves faster than the other therelated clutch elements are disengaged and the faster disk freed fromthe driving member, the said clutch elements re-engaging said disk whenthe disks resume same speed.

4. In a compensating gear; a driving or housing member; interposed disksattachable to the adjacent inner ends of alined axle sections. the disksbeing less in external diameter than the interior diameter of thedriving member leaving an annular space between the outer peripheries ofthe disks and the inner periphery of the housing; a series of rockingclutch members for each disk placed in the said annular space andadapted in one position to lock the disks to the driving member; meansfor properly spacing the said clutch elements in said space; meansinterposed between the disks adapted to be displaced by the rotatorialmovement of one disk relative to the other; and devices actuated by saidmeans whereby when one disk moves faster thanthe other the relatedclutch elements are disengaged and the disk freed from the drivingmemher; and r eans whereby the saidclutch elements are reengaged whenthe disks resume equal speed. a

5. A compensating gear comprising a driving member; opposed disksattachable to the adjacent inner ends of alined axle sections, the disksbeing less in external diameter than the interior diameter of thedriving member leaving an annular space between the outer peripheries ofthe disks terposed betweenthe disks adapted to be displaced by therotatoi'ial movement of one disk relative to the other; anddvicesactuated by said frictional means whereby when one disk movesfaster than the other the related clutch elements are disengaged and thefaster disk freed from the driving member; the said clutch elementsre-engaging when the disks resume same speed.

6. In a compensating gear, a driving or housing member, interposed disksattachable to the adjacent inner ends of alined axle sections, the disksbeing less in external diameter than the interior diameter of thedriving member leaving an annular space between the outer peripheries ofthe disks and'the inner periphery of the housing; an annular series ofrocking clutch elements placed in the said annular space around eachdisk and adapted in one position to lock the disk to the driving member;a cage for spacing the said clutch elements in said annularspace; andmeans interposed between the disks and frictionally engaged therewithadapted to be displaced by the mead-m1 movement of one disk relative tothe other and ivh'er'eby when one disk moves faster than the other therelated clutch elements are rocked to (uses external diameter than theinterior diameter 'of the housing leaving an annular space betivecn theouter pe ipheries ot the disks and the inner periphery of the housing;

rocking clutch elements in the said annular space adapted to engaee therelated disks;

' and 'ineans for prepery spacing; the said clutch elements in saidspace; frictional means whereby the clutch elements are caused tosimultaneously engage the compensatingdisks on tl e a le sections todrive the latter uniformly; n'ieans whereby when the machine is turning-'he clutch elements of the faster moving disk are caused to releasesuch disk; and means for causing such clutch elements to reengage thedisk when th'edisks resume the same speeds.

8. In a compensating gear the -combination of a pair of a-lin-ed 2121.16sections; a pair of opposed disks respectively attached to the axlesections; an outer driving member or housing surrounding' the disks, the

disks being less in external diameter than the interior diameter of thehousing leaving an annular space between the outer pe ripheries of thedisks and the inner pe "ipliery of the housing; a ser es of cylindrlcrocking clutch elements in the said an snular space adapted to engagethe related disks; a cage for spacing the said clutch elements in saidannular space; frictional means whereby the rocking clutch elements arecaused to simultaneously engage the compensatinp; disks on the axlesections to drive the latter uniformly; means whereby when the machineis turning" the clutch elements of the faster moving disk are caused tore lease such disk; and means for causing such clutch elements tore-cngaige the disk when the disks resume the same speeds.

9. In a compensating gear the combination ot an outer member or housing,a pair of opposed disks loosely fitted irithin the housing andrespectively attached to alined aide or shatt sections; the disks beingless in external diameter than the interior diameter of the housingleaving" an annular space between the outer peripheries of the disks andthe inner periphery of the housing; a clutch spacing member in saidannee L228 means whereby when the machine is tu'riithe clutch elementsoftne faster mew my; disk are caused to release such disk, and means forcausing such clutch elen'ierits to re -engage suchdisk when the disksresume the l same speeds.

10. In a compensating geaigthe combinatien of an out-er driving member'or housinn: of opposed disks loosely fitted Within the housing andrespec attached to alined arileo'i 'shatt sections; the disks beinglessin external diameter than the interior diameter ofthe housin'g leavanannular pace betvveen'the outer pieripheries of the disks and the inner'p eriphery ot'vthe housing; a clutcl i sp a'cing member in sale annularspace having a se i-ies t openings to receive clutch elements; rocking"clutch elements in said openings adapted to lock the related disks tothe housiiiw trictional means whereby the rockillQ' clutch elements arecaused to simultaneously engage the disks bn the axle sections to drivethe latter uniformly; means Wlier'eby when the machine is turningtheclutch elements of the faster moving disk are caused to release suchdisk; means forlimiting' the releasing movement of the clutch elements;and means for causing such clutch elements to re-engag'e such disk When,the disks resume the same speeds.

11.111 a compensating gear, a driving member or housing; interposeddisks attache 'able to the adjacent inner ends of alined axle sections,the disks beingless in external diameter than the interior diameter ofthe housingleaving' an annular space between a nular space around eachdislnandadapted in one position tolo'ckthe disk to the h0i1smg; trictionmembers interposed *between the disks and trictionally engagedtherewith,

adapted to be displaced by senatorial movement of one disk relative tothe other, pins or teeth on the said clutch elements respectivelyengaging opposed teeth, or

notches in thehouslng and in said friction members and whereby when "onedisk moves faster than the other the related clutch elements are rockedto disengage saiddisk from the driving memba; 'ln'testimonythat I claimthe foregoing as my own I affix my signature."

YDAVID Ross;

